The small grave sits deep in the pine grove, surrounded
By river rocks covered in moss and orange leaves.
New snow begins to fall from a gray southern sky.
Softly, it falls on a wooden cross of faded
Cedar and entwined pine twigs carved with loving care.
Old azalea blossoms litter the cold ground.
Respect and love for the dead dog shows through the care
That was given to the grave. The snow gets deeper
And blankets the spot as old memories linger,
Reminding me of the many walks in the woods
My dog and I had taken together on those
Humid summer days and chilly winter mornings.

In addition to being a member of various writing forums, Dana has also been published in USA Deep South, Long Story Short and Muscadine Lines – A Southern Journal. She is a member of SouthernHumorists.com and a contributing writer to Dew on the Kudzu, a Southern web journal, and Weight-LossArticles.com.

Dana can be reached at Bama Alum or at her blog, southerngalgoesnorth.blogspot.com.